title: Complex reassortment of multiple subtypes of avian influenza viruses in domestic ducks at the Dongting Lake Region of China.
abstract: To gain insight into the ecology of avian influenza viruses (AIV), we conducted active influenza virus surveillance in domestic ducks on farms located on the flyway of migratory birds in the Dongting Lake region of Hunan Province, China, from winter 2011 until spring 2012. Specimens comprising 3,030 duck swab samples and 1,010 environmental samples were collected from 101 duck farms. We isolated AIV of various HA subtypes, including H3, H4, H5, H6, H9, H10, H11, and H12. We sequenced the entire coding sequences of the genomes of 28 representative isolates constituting 13 specific subtypes. When the phylogenetic relationships among these isolates were examined, we observed that extensive reassortment events had occurred. Among the 28 Dongting Lake viruses, 21 genotypes involving the six internal genes were identified. Furthermore, we identified viruses or viral genes introduced from other countries, viral gene segments of unknown origin, and a novel HA/NA combination. Our findings emphasize the importance of farmed domestic ducks in the Dongting Lake region to the genesis and evolution of AIV and highlight the need for continued surveillance of domestic ducks in this region.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Guohua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Jianzhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Pengfei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Yongping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Liling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Guobin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawaoka
authors.forename: Chengjun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hualan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000821:virology; D002681:China; D004372:Ducks / Q000821:virology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005814:Genes, Viral; D016679:Genome, Viral; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000821:virology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016865:Reassortant Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification